Samsung releases source code for the Galaxy S III on Verizon

The Android community has been a bit upset at the fact that the Verizon branded Galaxy S III comes with a locked boot loader, and while this doesn't change that it is sure to make a few happy. Samsung has given up the source code for the Galaxy S III on Verizon, so if you are one of those that likes to build from code, or just poke around and see what is in there this will be of interest to you.

Android 4.0.4 update for Galaxy S II available for some territories

Cast your mind back to the original Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Samsung Galaxy S II, and you'll recall that version was based upon Android 4.0.3. Now it seems Samsung's 2011 flagship is getting another update to push it up to the more recent version 4.0.4. According to reports from SamMobile, the new 4.0.4 firmware has been finalized and is to start rolling out over-the-air and through Kies, starting with unlocked Russian handsets.

The new "XWLPM" firmware for the Galaxy S II (international version, GT-i9100) was built just a few days ago on July 5, and includes a new radio firmware, too. Keep watching Kies, and that software update menu, to see when your device is ready to be updated. Or if you're feeling brave, and absolutely must have that extra 0.0.1 version bump, you'll find an ODIN-flashable version over at the source link.

Samsung plugs multimedia and sharing in latest U.S. Galaxy S III ads

With the U.S. Galaxy S III launch now well underway, Samsung has launched three new TV commercials for the device. A far cry from the inspirational (or confusing) European Galaxy S III ads, Samsung has taken a more down-to-earth approach in its three latest S III ads for the U.S. market. Showcasing multimedia and sharing features like AllShare Play, AllShare Group Cast and Share Shot, Samsung's new ads feature more than fleeting glimpses of the product itself, and convey a clear message the device. That's in clear contrast to earlier Samsung ads, which variously poked fun at Apple fans, and bombarded viewers with random celebrity interludes.

If you want to check 'em out, we've got all three videos embedded after the break.

AT&T lights up several new cities with LTE data

AT&T this morning announced an expansion of its fledgling 4G LTE network. New cities to receive the faster data (as opposed to that "other" 4G data, the slower HSPA+) include:

Wichita, Kan.

Gainesville, Fla.

Greensboro, N.C.

Winston-Salem, N.C.

Corpus Christi, Texas

Burlington, N.C.

Buffalo, N.Y.

Charlotte, N.C., and Cleveland are seeing expanded LTE coverage as of today. AT&T's 4G LTE data is available on a number of Android smartphones, including the new Samsung Galaxy S III and the HTC One X, among others.

British High Court rules in favor of Samsung in Apple trade dress case

Apple has been defeated in a court case against Samsung in the UK, which sought to determine whether the Korean manufacturer's Galaxy Tabs were infringing upon Apple's registered community designs for the iPad. The British High Court today ruled that Samsung's designs for the Galaxy Tab 7.7, 8.9 and 10.1 are sufficiently different to Apple's, and cited examples of prior art in the area of tablet design dating back well before the advent of Apple's 9.7-inch slate.

Samsung's victory means it is free to continue selling its range of Android-powered tablets in the UK. Naturally the decision is a major blow for Apple, which has previously been successful in having Android tablets removed from the marketplace on account of design features like rounded corners and a thin chassis.

In a statement to UK tech site Pocket-Lint, Samsung said --

"Samsung had requested this voluntary trial in September 2011, in order to oppose Apple’s ongoing efforts to reduce consumer choice and innovation in the tablet market through their excessive legal claims and arguments. Apple has insisted that the three Samsung tablet products infringe several features of Apple’s design right, such as 'slightly rounded corners,' 'a flat transparent surface without any ornamentation,' and 'a thin profile.'

"However, the High Court dismissed Apple’s arguments by referring to approximately 50 examples of prior art, or designs that were previously created or patented, from before 2004. These include the Knight Ridder (1994), the Ozolin (2004), and HP’s TC1000 (2003). The court found numerous Apple design features to lack originality, and numerous identical design features to have been visible in a wide range of earlier tablet designs from before 2004."

The news follows HTC's high-profile victory over Apple at the High Court last week, in which it was ruled that the former's Android phones did not infringe upon the latter's patents. Samsung hasn't been so lucky in the U.S., where the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is currently banned from sale, and it's had some success in blocking sales of the Galaxy Nexus.

Hi guys! We're gonna switch up the normal Monday Brief this week to bring you all something special. I'm so excited to celebrate my one-year birthday with the Mobile Nations team, and with the help of every site in the network, I want to hook a lucky winner up with their dream device. Have you been lusting after the Samsung Galaxy S III? How about the new iPad? Or perhaps you've been anxiously awaiting the next round of Windows Phone 8 devices or are holding out for BlackBerry 10?

Over the years we've seen some pretty crazy entries for video contests here at Mobile Nations (Kevin often brings up a certain Pudding Wrestling in Time Square CrackBerry video), but I want to top them all, so we're gonna make this the best video contest Mobile Nations has ever had! Seriously, I want to you see you all get creative, get crazy and show me your passion to help, let's have a look at what you could win:

GRAND PRIZE: One (1) phone, tablet, or gadget you've read about on Mobile Nations websites, valued at up to $600 USD

Runners Up: We'll hook you up with some awesome stuff. Either a coupon to one of the stores, some swag or something else you'll love. Don't worry, if we use your intro on a Monday Brief, we'll give you recognition and a nice little reward.

Once again, this is a video contest -- you'll have to get creative and assemble your most creative, funny, or just plain insane version of my weekly introduction to the Monday Brief. If you're not sure what part that is, watch the beginning of the show. Jump below to get the full details on how to enter and check out the rules, you'll need to follow them accordingly.

We have your invite to the Scope for Android beta!

Not long ago, Scope for Android (formerly known as SocialScope) entered beta bringing a ton of new features and great updates. This all-in-one social app has support for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare, and Tumblr. The main home screen lists all your different services, providing each with a colorful icon with which to identify them. It breaks down all your social content into various sub-categories, allowing you to simply swipe between them. Besides breaking it down by service, content can be viewed by type. Scope will highlight any posts that are posting photos, or videos, or check-ins, breaking each off into their own category.

The only real drawback to the app was that unless you already had an account from being a BlackBerry user or you got an invite from a current user, you were out of luck and left out of the beta. Well, we'd like to help you change that. The awesome team at Socialscope has hooked us up today and is giving 500 of you the chance to join the beta. All you have to do is head over to the Google Play store and download the app. Use the invite code androidcentral and you're in! Invites are on a first come first served basis, so you'll want to hurry and get signed up.

Verizon Galaxy S III user manual now available online

Verizon's version of the Samsung Galaxy S III (read our review!), which recently started arriving at the homes of some who had pre-ordered and will be available in stores July 10th, now has its user manual available online. For many of you who know Android in-and-out, it may be repetitious, but it can be very valuable for all of you who have not owned a smartphone prior or who have recently made the switch from another platform. If you are an Android expert but are eagerly awaiting the Galaxy S III, it may help you pass the time as well. If you're interested in reading it, please find a link to the .pdf at the end of the article. If you want to delve more in-depth into discussions about how the phone is performing and when others are purchasing it, please visit our Verizon Galaxy S III Forum.

With a massive screen such as the one on the Samsung Galaxy Note, chances are it's going to be used to play some pretty sweet games. On-screen game controls still take something away from the gaming experience though, and while there are ways to use controllers, it's never the most elegant way of gaming.

One thing we can never accuse the Android community of, is a lack of creativity. What we see here is a bit of a homebrewed effort at creating a portable games console using a Galaxy Note, a PS3 controller, and some bits and pieces. The results are pretty impressive, and just goes to show what a bit of desire and creativity can do.

From the Editor's Desk: Welcome back, Nexus

That headline's been written for a week now, but it's certainly taken on new meaning in the past few days. With the announcement of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and a preview release coming out of Google I/O, I've found myself back on the Galaxy Nexus full-time. That comes after couple months on the HTC One X (mostly loved it) and the Galaxy S III (again, mostly loved it).

For those of you new to Android, the Galaxy Nexus is the third iteration of the "Pure Google" phone. It's an annual project from Google that gives developers a stable hardware platform on which to work, though it probably won't quite be on the cutting edge of the available technology. (That's true from the time of the original Nexus One, as well as the Nexus S.) It also is the one true "stock" experience, meaning there are no carrier or manufacturer customizations. (Here comes another caveat, though: The Galaxy Nexus on Sprint and Verizon has had a couple apps added.) It's also completely customizable from a modding standpoint, which makes it the Holy Grail for those who like to tinker. The bootloader's unlockable with a single terminal command, and gaining root access is trivial.

Returning to the Nexus has been easy enough; I always enjoyed the stock ICS experience in the first place. Jelly Bean really has made it that much better. Here are a few thoughts on coming back:

Sony releases Xperia S Ice Cream Sandwich kernel source

Good news for custom ROM developers, as Sony Mobile has just released the kernel source code for its recent Xperia SAndroid 4.0.4 update, as it's required to do under the open source rules. The open source archive, based on the just-launched v6.1.A.0.452 ICS firmware, weighs in at around 132MB, and will be an essential download for anyone preparing aftermarket firmware for Sony's international flagship phone. Regular users and ROM-flashers won't find much of interest here for the moment. Instead, the benefit of this code should show itself in the weeks ahead, in the form of stable, more functional ICS ROMs for the Xperia S.

Developers can grab the 132MB archive from Sony over at the source link.

ASUS teases multicolored Nexus 7 covers

Clad in blacks and grays, the Nexus 7 itself may be an unassuming beast, but it seems manufacturer ASUS is looking to spice things up a bit with its range of covers. The Nexus 7 maker teased a first look at its official accessories for the soon-to-be-released tablet on Twitter, showing some more colorful versions of the grey case that's listed -- though not yet available -- on Google Play. There's no info on pricing or availability just yet, but we're sure Nexus 7 early adopters will be looking to protect their investment with something like this following the tablet's release.

Best Buy, Staples and Future Shop Canada now taking pre-orders for the Nexus 7

At this point, it's no secret that retailers across various regions will be adding the Nexus 7 to their tablet offerings but now Best Buy, Staples and Future Shop Canada have gone ahead and set up their pre-orders for the first Android 4.1 Jelly Bean tablet. Oddly, it seems retailers are opting to not offer the lower priced 8GB version and instead jumping to the higher priced 16GB version. Whether or not the 8GB version will make an appearance later isn't known but either way, the $259.99 asking price isn't all that bad no matter how you slice it for what you're putting yourself into.

Of course, Google Play ordering is still the better option here considering you can get an additional $25 in apps when ordering direct but when these devices it hit stores, it should help those waiting to get a hands-on before diving in help decide if it's everything they are expecting. Speaking of dates, Best Buy and Future Shops says they'll be arriving in the warehouse on August 10th (bit late?) while Staples says July 14th. We'll be keeping our eye on whom, exactly ends up with them first. In the meantime, have you read our Nexus 7 review yet? If not, what are you waiting for?

The Galaxy Nexus is back at the Google Play store - sort of

We heard it was going to happen, and today the Galaxy Nexus has appeared with a price and an "add to cart" button again in Google Play, but things are still a bit off. Prior to the sales ban, we were able to click and get almost instant gratification knowing the phone was shipping out immediately, but now we're seeing a two to three week delay. We're not sure if this is a way to get time to make changes to skirt Apple's legal team, but it sounds reasonable.

All we know is that with Jelly Bean, this is the phone to have. We're glad to see that add to cart button. If you've been thinking about it, might want to click it now before the next round of courtroom lunacy happens.

Android Central Editors' app picks for July 7, 2012

Here we are, back again. Another Saturday we get to spend together checking out some of our favorite applications, and sharing them with you. We know you guys have your favorite apps as well, so this week we challenge you to list them out -- we love hearing about the apps folks are using! Let's hit the break and see what we have for you this time around.